As seen in VOGUE
By Shelby Wax
A few years back, Texas natives Diana Rubin and her future husband, Aaron Rosenthal, lived in the exact same building in New York City—but had never met in person. “My doorman, who was like a second father to me, kept teasing me that there was a ‘new guy from Texas’ in the building. I’d just roll my eyes and laugh,” shares Diana, who works in healthcare. “The lesson here: New York doormen have great instincts!” They later met socially through mutual friends. After Aaron made a few attempts at asking her out, Diana finally agreed to a first date—and it wasn’t until that night in a West Village cocktail bar in February 2022 that the two realized they were neighbors. “What was meant to be a quick drink turned into a two-hour conversation, followed by a long walk through the neighborhood. Neither of us wanted the evening to end,” remembers Aaron, who works in finance. “The next day, I called my best friend and told him all about it. I’ll never forget his response: ‘Sounds like you just met your future wife.’ I laughed because earlier that morning at work, my colleagues had said exactly the same thing.”
After a year-and-a-half living in the same building in the West Village, the couple decided to move into the same apartment together in Tribeca. “Our home quickly became our favorite place in the world,” says Diana. The following year, Diana was planning to join Aaron for a birthday dinner at the Italian restaurant where they had one of their first dates. “As I walked back home, I saw Aaron standing in Duane Park, right across from our apartment. It’s a spot where we often had coffee together in the mornings,” shares Diana. “I was a little confused as to why he had crossed the street but didn’t think much of it until suddenly, he was down on one knee. I think I completely blacked out from there.” The newly engaged pair headed to the restaurant, where both of their families were present, ready to surprise them and celebrate.
A larger celebration was now on the horizon, and the couple would need to get planning. Since the bride studied art history at the American University in Paris, she always dreamed of returning to the city and getting married at one of its storied institutions. The couple chose the Musée Rodin—home to the artist’s famous works The Thinker and The Kiss—as their wedding venue for a springtime ceremony on May 24, 2025. “The museum’s gardens and timeless architecture created an atmosphere that felt both intimate and grand, a perfect reflection of the romance and artistry we hoped to capture on our wedding day,” says Diana. The venue served as the basis for most of the wedding’s design. The building’s French gray-blue doors became central to the wedding’s color palette, and elements of its rococo architecture were echoed in the wedding crest and cake design. Another unique touch? “The museum’s beautiful parquet de Versailles floors were re-created as the pattern for our dance floor, as we wanted the structure built for the reception to feel like an extension of the main building,” says Diana.
The couple didn't take on all these design projects alone. "Planning an international wedding weekend is not for the faint of heart," says the bride. "I had a very specific vision in mind and knew exactly what I wanted, so it took time and patience to find the right team of vendors who could bring that vision to life." Bringing on planner Lucas Somoza was a no-brainer for Diana. "While Lucas is an incredible event planner based in Paris, our grandmothers happen to both hail from Victoria, Texas, and were lifelong best friends since early childhood," she says. "Having someone well-connected with local vendors and fluent in the language made all the ditference. Above all else, our personal relationship blossomed, and he understood the vision and turned every ubiquitous French 'non' into a 'oui? So much of the inspiration behind our wedding weekend, especially the emphasis on guest experience, can be traced back to our grandmothers, who played such similar and meaningful roles in our lives.
Selecting the fashion for the wedding weekend was one of Diana's favorite tasks. "My family loves to joke that I entered the world with an entire wardrobe in tow, and honestly, they're not far off," she says. While she decided to direct the vision herself and not hire a stylist, Somoza stepped in to help advise. The bride kicked off festivities in vintage for her "La Vie en Rosenthal"-themed rehearsal dinner at Ralph's. "I wore a stunning archival Loris Azzaro gown from Happy Isles," she explains.
"The same dress was famously worn by Sophia Loren at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival and perfectly embodies Azzaro's signature dramatic and feminine style." Since the venue would be decorated in tones of rose and caramel, she coordinated with an Alberta Ferretti satin bag and ruffled heels that fit the palette. "Always insisting that I have an option in case of unexpected chilly weather, Lucas sourced a vintage Dolce & Gabbana cropped jacket that further echoed the garden setting of the venue and the evening's rose motif," adds Diana. A final touch? The day before the party, Diana purchased a pair of statement earrings at Valentino for an extra pop of sparkle.
For his rehearsal dinner look, Aaron worked with Thom Sweeney, to create a custom suit. "His navy and brown checkered blazer drew inspiration from Ralph Lauren's early 2000s menswear, evoking a sense of equestrian, Old World charm," shares Diana. "It was such a special nod to the brand's legacy and the gorgeous venue where our weekend festivities kicked off."
The next day followed with a welcome cruise down the Seine with a “crème de la crème” theme. To stand out from the guests in white, the bride wore silver and gold. “I donned a fully sequined, metallic skirt and top from Carolina Herrera's fall 2025 runway collection that was skillfully sourced by Stefania Allen at Editorialist, a friend of Lucas’s,” shares Diana. She paired the look with a custom silver opera coat made by Patricia Voto of One/Of. “The vision for the coat was inspired by my late grandmother Iris, one of the most stylish and fabulous women I have ever known,” says the bride. “I know this is a piece that my daughter, and even her daughter will one day wear.” Her look was completed with a high ponytail, bold makeup, and Schiaparelli earrings. In Diana’s words: “Simply put, I felt like a movie star that night.” The groom wore a cream double-breasted suit, a Brunello Cucinelli pocket square, and Gucci loafers for the night. “His look was perfectly in sync with the evening’s palette and energy and absolutely nailed the mood board.” Diana adds. “Yes, I’m one of those brides that sent guests style guides for each event, but only because so many were asking for them!”
Diana thought out every look from the beginning to the end of the wedding day. While she got ready, the bride wore her something borrowed—a chartreuse shirt made from vintage damask fabric owned by Voto. “I mentioned I was still on the hunt for my getting-ready outfit, and without missing a beat, she said, ‘Why don’t you just wear my shirt?’ We both laughed, but the moment she said it, I knew it was perfect,” says Diana. “It was effortlessly bridal in the coolest, most unexpected way, and chartreuse happened to be one of the key accent colors used throughout the wedding.” She paired the look with Dolce & Gabbana satin bloomers embroidered with “Madame Rosenthal” on the back—“a cheeky touch, pun intended.”
For her walk down the aisle, Diana wore a strapless lace Elie Saab ballgown with a lace over-the-shoulder topper. “After trying on dozens of dresses in New York, I knew this was the one the moment I stepped into Elie Saab’s Paris showroom. Lucas was with me, and we both teared up,” she remembers. “I especially loved how the intricate patterns on this gown echoed the French architectural details of the Musée Rodin, with its blend of floral and geometric motifs mirroring the ornate facade and sculpted, classical scrollwork.” For extra drama, the Elie Saab team made a custom veil that extended past cathedral length. The groom also took a classic approach for the black-tie affair in a tuxedo by Thom Sweeney.
For the reception, Diana changed into a hand-beaded corset and skirt by Wiederhoeft. “After the eternal elegance of the Elie Saab ballgown, I wanted my second look to be sleeker and a little daring,” she says. “Despite the metal boned construction, cinched waist, and intricate lace-up back, this was the most comfortable ensemble I wore on my wedding night.” Once the party moved into the morning hours, the bride swapped her heels for Aquazzura crystal flats and a Miu Miu–inspired mini by One/Of. “Patricia sourced the most decadent, icy blue brocade from which she happened to have just enough to make the dress and coordinating headpiece,” she shares. Aaron also made a swap from his formal tuxedo into an ivory dinner jacket for the after-party. The bride adds, "It was a perfect complement to the springtime glamour of the evening.”
The bridesmaids were also decked out for the big day in shades of chartreuse and soft blues. “They wore a curated mix of Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta, Rachel Gilbert, and more, creating a joyful yet refined palette that echoed the wedding design,” says Diana. Her maid of honor, Alexa Fleet, wore a custom look by Nardos in the same gray-blue palette and her mother also wore a design by Elie Saab. She says the pair were her “something blue.”
The bride and groom began their wedding day with a quiet, romantic breakfast on their hotel room's balcony. “To me, this day was all about letting Diana shine,” says Aaron. “This wedding wasn’t just an event, it was a reflection of her creative spirit and eye for detail, something that inspires me daily and that I love about her.” The pair would separate to get ready for the day, and reconvene at the museum. “The ceremony itself felt like something out of a fairy tale. When I walked down the aisle, I could barely see through the tears welling up in my eyes,” remembers Diana. Aaron says that when he saw her walking down the aisle, it felt as if time stopped. “She was glowing,” he recalls. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, and I remember almost tripping over myself while walking down to embrace her father and to take her hand.”
Cocktail hour followed, where guests enjoyed endless hors d’ouevres, waiters poured magnums of Champagne, and specialty cocktails were served, including Parisian Palomas and Château Waters, “our playful twist on a Texas classic, Ranch Water,” says Diana. Dinner followed in a tent featuring recreations of Haussmannian paneling and brass sconces that had taken a week to build. The couple took to the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife to “Let Me Roll It” by Paul McCartney.
After cutting an architectural pink Champagne cake designed by Fehintola Bolodeoku of MonAnnie Cakes, the celebration called for more dancing. “When it was time to open the after-party, guests were surprised to learn that there were secret doors to an additional tent, hidden and upholstered in our custom wallpaper down to the door hinges under Lucas’s perfectionist direction, making the reveal all the more effective,” explains Diana. The after-party tent was styled by Larry Walshe to feel like a French take on a speakeasy. “Something Marie Antoinette might have created if she were throwing a party today,” says the bride. Except for a quick musical interlude from Diana’s dad on the drums, the band played non-stop until 3 a.m. “Truthfully, I had to be carried out of the venue because I just wasn’t ready for it to end,” shares Diana.
Reflecting on the weekend, the couple shares they would do it all over again. “It was the best weekend of our lives.”
Comprehensive Vendor List:
Rehearsal: 5.22.25
Planning & Design: @lucassomoza
Florals: @maisongillespothier
Photography: @gregfinck
Venue & Catering: @ralphsparis
Stationery: @cecinewyork
Hair & Makeup: @alesiasolo.co
Calligraphy: @artfulcorrespondence
Favors & Signage: @shopsurcie
Decorative Pillows: @caitlinwilsondesign
Bespoke Linens: @jaujalinen
DJ: @victoria_delbono
Transportation: @evendis.fr
Dress: @happyisles_salon
Suiting: @thom__sweeney
Welcome Dinner: 5.23.25
Planning & Design: @lucassomoza
Florals & Decor: @larrywalshe
Photography: @gregfinck
Coordination: @rdvinparis
Hair & Makeup: @alesiasolo.co
Venue: @le.diamant.bleu
Catering: @grandchemintraiteur
Calligraphy: @artfulcorrespondence
Favors & Signage: @shopsurcie
Strolling Band: @knightsclub.vip
Tech: @bstechnology.fr
Transportation: @evendis.fr
Fashion: @carolinaherrera @oneof_ny
Wedding Day: 5.24.25
Planning & Design: @lucassomoza
Florals Decor: @larrywalshe
Photography: @gregfinck
Videography: @laurentrostaing
Stationery: @cecinewyork
Hair & Makeup: @alesiasolo.co
Coordination: @rdvinparis
Production: @di.events
Officiant: @theparisofficiant
Venue: @museerodinparis
Catering: @poteletchabot
Cake: @monanniecakes
Tent: @instajaulin
Transportation: @evendis.fr
Sound & Light: @bstechnology.fr
Entertainment: @inspirationlivemusic
Guest Portrait Photography: @catalin.vv
Calligraphy: @artfulcorrespondence
Favors & Signage: @shopsurcie
Ceremony Gown: @eliesaabbridal
Reception Dress: @weiderhoeft
Afterparty Dress: @oneof_ny
Suiting: @thom__sweeney
Bon Voyage Brunch : 5.25.25
Planning & Design: @lucassomoza
Venue & Catering: @lebristolparis
Stationery & Signage: @cecinewyork
Hair & Makeup: @alesiasolo.co
Mariachis: @mariachi.vivamexico.paris
Luggage Tag Personalization: @mecalligraphie
Dress: @giambattistavalliparis
Suiting: @brunellocucinelli_brand
